A YES campaign group for a McDonald’s on the outskirts of Abergavenny is gathering pace, with more than 1,400 supporters.

The fast-food giant has lodged plans with Monmouthshire council’s planning officers to open a drive-through restaurant in Llanfoist, next to the Heads of the Valleys Road.

McDonald’s Restaurant Limited wants to build on land known as the Westgate site, off Merthyr Road, creating more than 65 jobs for local people.

The Facebook group YES to McDonald’s in Abergavenny now has 1,477 members since it was created two weeks ago.

Craig Titchener, 36, a mechanic from Dany-Y-Deri, Mardy, set up the group in support of the proposed plans.

He said: “I wanted to give the other side a voice. If there’s going to be a Brewers and a Costa going there what is the big aggravation with McDonald’s being there.

“I think the main reasons I’m in support is that it would create more jobs in Abergavenny and that’s something we really need. The site is an old tip with a derelict building, a McDonald’s is going to improve it.”

He added: “You can’t blame McDonald’s for the rubbish, it’s the people who throw rubbish and they are going to do this whatever packaging or wherever it’s from.

“There is nowhere in Abergavenny for families to go after 6pm – McDonald’s offers kids parties and would be a family friendly atmosphere.”

More than 200 objections have been received by Monmouthshire’s planning department and more than 300 in support of the plans.

In 2001, hundreds of campaigners signed a petition against plans to build on a site alongside the Heads of the Valleys Road, on the edge of Abergavenny.

They feared it would harm the town centre and called for it to be built in the centre.

The proposal was rejected by planners.

The application by McDonald’s was submitted in August but is unlikely to be heard by the planning committee until December.